I can't stand racism, and it appears I'm not alone.
Basically, racism is pathetic—it degrades a person due to the colour of his skin. Manchester United's Rio Ferdinand recently echoed these thoughts.
Ferdinand, who was once being considered for the England captain's role, said he believes FIFA should take strict measures to get rid of this problem.
Manchester United's No. 5 suggested FIFA should reduce points of the teams whose fans chant racial or homophobic abuse, and this comes after Croatia gave Emile Heskey a hard time and Sol Campbell was ridiculed by Spurs' fans at White Hart Lane.
I'm all for cutting racism off at its roots, but are Ferdinand's suggestions appropriate?
Perhaps a couple of drunkards in the crowd are having a go—should the whole team, fan base, and country suffer?
Give us your thoughts....
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about 1 month ago
This is an incessant problem in Europe. We have to remember, as much as Europe wants to act like it's "KING" over the US in all issues, they've just recently began to experience immigrant groups in their countries and their's never been a civil rights era in these countries. Europe is way behind the US when it comes to race relations because they don't have the history we do when it comes to it. We confront it, they run away from it and act like it doesnt exist.
from about 1 month ago
"Europe" and "America". Bit of a simplistic us and them type theory you've got going on their isn't it. Lets face it Croatia isn't England and New York isn't Alabama. Nothing is that simple did you know Jesse Owens America's symbol of "Racial equality" in the Berlin Olympics said he enjoyed more freedom and equality in Berlin than he ever enjoyed in Alabama. Ironic eh? Bet my bottom dollar you've never even been to europe.
from about 1 month ago
I'm with Anthony, this isn't about you trying to put America over Europe..
about 1 month ago
England is actually better off than the continent when it comes to dealing with racism.. but yes, if the fans misbehave - make the clubs play behind closed doors.. there's precedent for things like that, especially in Italy.. but I think that would teach everyone involved a lesson.
Racism is despicable, and has to be rooted out.. no two ways about it.
from about 1 month ago
The Premier League has had an overdoze of African lads in recent years, Arsenal, ofcourse, one of the main causes which has added to the problem.
from about 1 month ago
What do you mean Salaar? That Arsenal have contributed to racism by buying African players?
I didn't get the statement.. please clarify it?
from about 1 month ago
No that the African players have been suffering from this problem...Lauren and Eboue had complained about it...I actually think Wenger's a mastermind with these transfers..
from about 1 month ago
Oh - absolutely.. but the problem is a lot worse in Spain and Italy - we see isolated incidents in England.. but they are just that.. isolated..
Either way - racism is something which needs to be rooted out, and authorities must ensure that they do whatever possible to remove this evil from football and society.
about 1 month ago
I have been to Europe. Germany and Italy to be exact Anthony. I've never been to England. I'm not here to argue, but I also haven't seen people throwing banana peels and making monkey noises at an American stadium.
from about 1 month ago
I'm not arguing just disagreeing. Nice to know you speak from experience a lot of americans don't.
from about 1 month ago
When and where have you experienced monkey chants and people throwing bananas in a German stadium?
The only ones I remember from the last 20 years were directed at Oliver Kahn...
from about 1 month ago
not to be rude Daniel but just to point out but Claudio is right
"On 25 March 2006, in a match between FC Sachsen Leipzig and Hallescher FC, Leipzig's Nigerian midfielder Adebowale Ogungbure was spat at and called 'Nigger' and 'ape' by opposition fans, who later aimed monkey noises at him. In retaliation he placed two fingers above his mouth and saluted at the crowd - an obvious reference to Adolf Hitler. Ogungbure was arrested by German police, as it is illegal to make Nazi gestures for political or abusive purposes, but criminal proceedings were dropped 24 hours later." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Racism_in_football
about 1 month ago
It's always great to tackle subjects that link football to humanity.
Racism is something that should be rejected and racists should be punished well so that football and sports as a whole, can truly, and once and for all, kick out of racism.
from about 1 month ago
I completely agree, Zahi but even in Italy, players like Clarence Seedorf have had to face this problem...
from about 1 month ago
I didnt say that Italian fans (some of them) are not racists !! They are probably one of the worst behaving crowds in the world !
about 1 month ago
Racism is a mammoth problem for all of humanity.
Darwin and his co-theorists are largely responsible for its transferal into the modern age.
But in all cases it comes about through ignorance and mob mentality.
It is in no way limited to football, but I can see Ferdinands point. How hard would it be to send the message that it is intolerable? As hard as making teams really feel the pinch in these situations.
from about 1 month ago
A valid point made, Illya but supposing Spain face England in the Qualifiers and if Spain win and Ashley Cole is ridiculed by a lot of the Spanish crowd, would it be fair to take the points away, is it a legit suggestion?
from about 1 month ago
i think it would stop the fans letting it happen around them definitely, but I also see your point here about how unfair it could possibly be to the team. It is a tough one, you think there must be someway of stamping it out. Maybe it just comes down to the vigilance of the stewards. There must be some or a lot who turn a blind eye.
about 1 month ago
i think it'd be unfair to punish the clubs for a minority of fans been disgusting, but then again what other way is there to tackle it? its almost impossible to punish every fan chanting racist abuse. something needs to be done
about 1 month ago
Rather than punishing entire fan bases, what about identifying those responsible for the racist actions and banning them from grounds for life? Isn't a similar stance taken with those with a history of hooliganism? I'm all for playing behind closed doors if the racial abuse continues but I think Salaar raises an interesting point about punishing those not partaking.
Anthony, I'm not surprised that Jesse Owens had those views in 1930s Alabama. That was pre-Civil Rights movement in this country, so despite the abolition of slavery, blacks were still forced to use different drinking fountains, eat at different restaurants and sleep in different hotels than whites. School integration was still over 20 years away, especially in the South.
I AM surprised that Owens would say he enjoyed more freedom in Germany. I've been taking a very close look at European jazz musicians in the 1930s in a history class, and some of the anti-jazz (read: anti-Black) propaganda that the Nazis produced is an abomination. Everybody in the room was squirming uncomfortably when we saw some of these things.
from about 1 month ago
Exactly, it is a huge problem but how can it be cut off from the root?
about 1 month ago
I think it is important to consider that Football more than any other sport is a representative of a team and country's identity. Lazio fans for example have been known to give the Fascist salute, Rangers is a Protestant team and despises Celtic more than life itself. These clubs and leagues mirror the everyday reality of people. WHen you go to a Football game what do you expect people to do, sit down and be quiet? There is no excuse for any racial chants or actions, however Football games have been known as a setting to express ones self and unfortunately racism is one of those aspects.
about 1 month ago
The team should certainly not be punished for the actions of a minority of supporters actions, that would be incredibly wrong.
There are enough camera's in stadiums now to be able to record who is doing the racial abuse.
If a player is abused then he should inform the ref who would radio someone in the camera room of the rough location the incident took place.
The people should have their faces put on to newspapers and tv and shamed as racists.
They should be banned for life from ALL stadiums worldwide, put on to a database and prosecuted by law as they would be on the street for racial abuse.
Imagine walking down the street and practically everyone knew you was a racist?
If the racists are allowed back in to grounds by a club then the club should be punished accordingly.
Unfortunatly large groups would take a little longer and make it much harder to process the incidents.
But im sure after a season or two of strict measures, it will be a very small minority that will attempt the abuse in the future.
More importantly fellow fans should be more active against witnessing supporters of their own club racially abusing their players.
I dont mean start fighing etc
Reporting the incidents, turning their back on the supporters, walking out immediatly and asking for your money back etc
Racism is never going to be irradicated immediatly or completly but im pretty certain it can be pushed out of football stadiums.
about 1 month ago
I say that Rio is on the right track, but his solution won't fix anything. It's the fans that usually do the racism. So something should be done about fans. Maybe ban them like you suggest in your poll.
about 1 month ago
First off great article Salaar.
This is such an odd, odd thing. Are these people racist or stupid? They make racist comments against opposition players and then cheer their own black players, so I'd say they lack intellect.
I think proper fans could help with this. There was a case recently in Ireland where a young African player was racially abused during a hurling match by young girls who were been encouraged by their parents. The story made national news, the club in question were so sickened that their so called supporters could do this that they did everything to root them out and as far as I know the GAA banned them for life.
People have camera phones now, do the right thing, record these idiots and the videos could even be spent in anonnymously if they fear reprecussion. The Sol Campbell case is just sick...
However, it is not just in England, this is a universal illness.
about 1 month ago
I, honestly, used to think racism was only a thing Americans had to deal with. It wasn't until I started seeing some shows and movies from England that hit on the racism there, albeit in a different manner. Here we have Blacks and Hispanics who get the crap end of the deal, while in England, Indians and Pakistanis get it rough from time to time.
I utterly despise racism. I was even on the receiving end growing up in Texas when my parents were stationed at the Air Force base in San Antonio. I got picked up and beat up for being white in a primarily Hispanic neighborhood. My red hair also made me stand out.
My father's side of the family is from Georgia, which is still pretty bad about racism. I absolutely cringe when I hear the "N" word used, by both Whites and Blacks. There is no need for that.
Luckily, in regards to sporting events ... I've seen little racism in my time. There was a documented case with my team, the Columbus Crew, of someone using a racial slur ... but that person was dealt with swiftly by the club's organization. So I am proud of that.
about 1 month ago
i hate racism. i suffer it quite a lot when i play for my team in sunday league. people call me a 'terrorist' and things like that because i'm half iranian. it's a problem that goes down even as far as grass roots level, and although i'm probably being rather biased, i'm all for team's getting deducted points for racist behaviour.
from about 1 month ago
Welcome to my world too Yoosof.
Man, it just won't stop. I know how u exactly feel cudd. It aint pretty at all.
U feel like u just wanna tackle the person who directed the crap at you..but u can't cuz u know it will get worse. At least that's how I feel.
Thanks for the article ma man Salaar.
from about 1 month ago
yes khalid that's exactly how i feel as well. i do my best to ignore it, but sometimes it's just impossible to ignore the fact that someone has been shouting racist abuse at you for 90 minutes. i do my best not to go down to their level, but sometimes i just find it impossible and i give in to my temptations. and when that happens, it aint pretty for me, and it certainly aint pretty for them.
about 1 month ago
banning supporters from stadiums doesn't stop racism but it stops them from coming the game, everyone know the campaigns aren't that effective anymore.
about 1 month ago
banning supporters from stadiums will set the example needed to truly kick it out of the game
about 1 month ago
There's no place for racism in our beautiful game or in our daily life. I have seen comments on B/R stories of racisim which are quickly deleted. We can't have people like this in our community.
about 1 month ago
Clubs are improving their surveillance systems in their stadium's stands. Therefore it is getting easier to keep track. When you bring it to the point of "couple of drunkards and their actions harming the entire club" you simplify it too much. If the stadiums are in control and authority of the clubs then the clubs must be responsible for what's going on inside. And they should take the preventive actions before any higher ground authority feels obliged to interfere. So if clubs and their boards fail to comply with anti-racist actions they should be punished. Financial fines seem the most appropriate ones for now but in cases where it does not improve things alone, then forwarding fans' disappointment towards club board may be the only way out, which makes banning supporters from stadiums or moving clubs to neutral venues for home games sensible.
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